James Harden’s controversial face mask, explained

Did James Harden really wear a Thin Blue Line mask?

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Houston Rockets superstar James Harden joined his teammates this week in the NBA bubble at Disney World ahead of the restart of the season.

Aside from how he looked on the court, there was something else that NBA fans were talking about: his protective face mask with a controversial image on it that he was snapped wearing, which was posted by the Rockets’ Twitter account.

As of Friday morning, Harden was trending on Twitter as he was heavily criticized. Let’s explain what’s going on.

What’s the image you’re talking about?

Here it is:

Is that a modified American flag?

Yes, but it appears to be a specific image known as the “Thin Blue Line,” described by the Washington Post as “a pro-police symbol that critics have long claimed also stands for white supremacy and opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement.”

There’s also a possibility of a skull on it, which might be the logo from the comic book hero the Punisher, which has been used by Blue Lives Matter protesters.

Did Harden disagree with Black Lives Matter protests in recent months?

No. Here’s what he said on Thursday regarding George Floyd protests:

The way the city just, like, rallied. It was amazing. I think the world saw it, how so many people could come together so close. Obviously, it was for a tragic reason, but the marching and everything we’re standing for is very powerful.

So why would he wear that mask?

That’s what’s so confounding. Perhaps he didn’t know what that specific image meant? Could he have thought it was in support of the Black Lives Matter movement instead? We don’t have that answer yet.

Has anyone tried to explain it?

Yes, actually. Rapper Young Thug tweeted that Harden “don’t have internet so he obviously don’t know what’s right or wrong.”

Singer Trey Songz reacted by saying, “This certified clown (expletive). I’ll say it for everybody who scared to.”

Has Harden or the Rockets said anything?

The Post said neither the team nor the NBA responded to queries about Harden’s mask.

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